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Texas Criminal Appeals

A conviction is not always the end. If legal errors occurred during your trial, an appeal may provide an opportunity for relief—reversal, a new trial, or modification of your sentence.

Appellate Practice

What Is a Criminal Appeal?

Jeffrey D. Parker's appellate practice is grounded in his extensive trial experience. Having tried more than 200 cases himself, he understands how errors happen in the courtroom and how to identify issues that appellate courts will take seriously.

A criminal appeal is not a new trial. Appellate courts do not hear witnesses or consider new evidence. Instead, they review the trial court record to determine whether reversible legal error occurred.

Common appellate issues include:

  • Improper admission or exclusion of evidence
  • Errors in the jury charge
  • Prosecutorial misconduct
  • Ineffective assistance of trial counsel
  • Improper sentencing
  • Violations of constitutional rights

Not every error warrants reversal. Appellate courts apply specific standards of review, and many errors are subject to harmless error analysis. Effective appellate advocacy requires identifying issues that are both legally viable and significant enough to warrant relief.

Appellate Courts

Mr. Parker handles appeals before:

  • Texas Courts of Appeals — The 14 intermediate appellate courts that hear direct appeals from trial courts across the state.
  • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals — The highest court in Texas for criminal matters, which hears discretionary review of decisions from the intermediate courts.
State Post-Conviction

State Habeas Corpus

Texas law provides for post-conviction relief through applications for writ of habeas corpus under Article 11.07 (felonies) and Article 11.072 (probation cases) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

Mr. Parker evaluates potential habeas claims based on the specific facts, procedural history, and applicable legal standards.

Time-Sensitive Proceedings

Federal post-conviction relief is governed by strict deadlines. The one-year statute of limitations under § 2255 begins to run from the date the judgment of conviction becomes final. If you believe you may have grounds for post-conviction relief, it is critical to seek legal counsel promptly.


Trial Experience Informs Appellate Advocacy

Having tried more than 200 cases, Mr. Parker understands how errors occur at trial—evidentiary rulings, jury charge problems, ineffective assistance claims, and procedural missteps—and how to present those issues persuasively to appellate courts. That firsthand trial experience is what separates effective appellate advocacy from academic analysis.

Considering an Appeal?

Time limits apply. Contact the Law Office of Jeffrey D. Parker to discuss your appellate options.

(254) 760-5296 Contact the Office →